2012 Olympic Football

July 2012

London 2012 Olympic Football: Team GB 1 Brazil 0

Team GB Women beat the mighty Brazil 1-0 on a memorable and record-breaking night at Wembley Stadium to finish top of Group E at London 2012 and avoid world champions Japan in the quarter-finals.

Steph Houghton scored the winning goal in front of an incredible crowd of 70,584 - a record for a women's match in Britain.

Hope Powell's team will now face Canada on Friday at the City of Coventry Stadium with the aim of reaching the semi-finals.

Both teams had already qualified for the last eight, and Brazil finished second in the group and must take on the Japanese in Cardiff on Friday.

Great Britain took the lead in the second minute. Karen Carney twisted free of Brazil's defence on the right wing and sent in a low cross which Arsenal star Houghton reached before goalkeeper Andreia of Brazil and forced home past her marker from a tight angle. It was the defender's third goal in three matches.

Brazil almost equalised in the 25th minute when Alex Scott headed against her own post under pressure from Cristiane before Kelly Smith flashed a half-volley across the face of Brazil's goal.

On a heady night for the home they could have gone 2-0 up when Great Britain won a penalty in the 55th minute after Francielle tripped Eniola Aluko. But Smith'sspot-kick was too close to 'keeper Andreia, who saved to her left.

But that did not prove too costly a miss and it was still a famous victory for Great Britain, whose jubilant players enjoyed a lap of honour at the end of the match, as has become customary in this tournament,